Moonlighter Mastery Tips for New Players

Mastering Moonlighter Gameplay

Moonlighter, an indie game with approachable gameplay, but mastering it is no easy task. Mytour presents some tips for newcomers, aiming to make your Moonlighter experience smoother.

If you haven't grabbed the game yet, check out the guide on how to get it for free on the Epic Store here.

Grasping the Loop Mechanism

Always bear in mind that Moonlighter, though a single game, unfolds as two distinct phases: day and night. At night, immerse yourself in action RPG gameplay—explore dungeons, battle monsters, loot, level up. However, during the day, indulge in a business simulation, utilizing the items obtained at night to sell and earn profits. Manage your store, set prices, cater to customers... and then use the earned money to upgrade weapons and gear for the next night's battles.

This is the cyclical loop mechanism in Moonlighter, with two tightly interconnected phases. Understanding this mechanism helps tailor your gameplay strategy to each phase. Those less skilled in business management can focus on swiftly accumulating items at night and selling them in bulk at affordable prices to please customers. Meanwhile, those less adept at action RPG gameplay can invest more time and inventory space in searching for rare items, pricing them reasonably, and selling based on quality rather than quantity.

As a newcomer, mastering Moonlighter becomes a breeze if you grasp the game's mechanics, saving you from the need for excessive grinding.

Pricing Strategy

For new players, Moonlighter might seem devoid of any hints on the value of your items, but that's far from the truth. Unlike other RPGs that use predefined rarity ratings like Common, Rare, Legendary, Moonlighter takes a different approach.

In Moonlighter, as you gaze upon the catalog in the current region, you'll notice a list of items arranged from top to bottom. Pay attention to the gold amount on the top right of the item list. For example, if you see 3000 gold, it signifies the most valuable item in the current area, valued at 3000 gold. Thus, the item list across all areas is ordered from high to low value, with more valuable items at the top and less valuable ones at the bottom.

Based on that, if you accumulate a decent amount of items in the current region you're playing, and you find them at the top of the list, feeling valuable based on item names like Crystal, King... or dropped by tough monsters, it's likely the item is valued at 3000 gold or less. Price it around 2800, 2700... Continue adjusting based on customer satisfaction with the item to establish a more reasonable price range. Congratulations, you're ready to become a skilled entrepreneur.

What to Buy First?

Once you've amassed a certain amount of money, you'll wonder how to use it, where to spend it first, what to buy first. The basic principle similar to other management games is to prioritize upgrading the town, village, or city and shops as soon as possible. In Moonlighter, town upgrades often exceed your early-game income, so prioritize upgrading your shop first.

Prioritize expanding the shop at the top to have more space for displaying items. Some upgrade options will help increase income per item sold; prioritize these options first. Additionally, consider upgrading options such as the bed to enhance recovery, and the inventory to increase the item limit, as they provide significant support during the nighttime dungeon-crawling phase. Afterward, consider unlocking and upgrading the forge in town, where you can forge weapons and equipment, essential items when venturing into dungeons.

Optimal Weapon and Gear Usage

With the mentioned forge unlocked, you can now craft and upgrade weapons for yourself. However, prioritizing which equipment to use is crucial, as you can only equip a maximum of 2 weapons when exploring dungeons. Instead of focusing on the two most powerful weapons, use a combination for various situations. Consider combining a melee weapon with a ranged one, for example, a sword for close combat and a bow for long-range attacks. A spear is also a good option as it offers both close and medium-range combat capabilities. Unlocking the first weapon of each type is relatively inexpensive, allowing you to experiment with different combinations to find the most suitable playstyle for you.

As you gain more experience, pay attention to the weapon list at the forge; some weapons require special materials to craft. Place them on your desired weapon list and try to obtain the specific materials needed to craft these weapons. This will significantly enhance your combat prowess, making it much easier to swiftly conquer the initial dungeon.

As you delve deeper into the game, you'll discover that the world in Moonlighter continues to expand, offering more intriguing things to explore. The three bullet points below will summarize what you need to remember and follow as you progress.

- The bottom of the dungeon isn't always the end; pay close attention to shimmering pits, as they might lead to further depths of the dungeon.

- Curses will start to appear, causing harm to your items. Store your items in inventory slots as soon as possible to prevent future losses.

- Business is ruthless; don't be too lenient with customers, even if they seem godly. If you notice a customer enjoying your item without the intention to pay, rush over to intervene and make it clear who the true owner is.

Hope that through these gaming tips, you can embark on a new cycle for yourself in the world of Moonlighter. Wishing you all enjoyable gaming experiences.